Safety-cushion for elevators



(No-M6361.)

' J. GILPIN 8v 0. HELMIGK.

SAFETY CUSHION FOR ELEVATORS No. 568,345. Patented Sept. 29, 1896.

Enn-

H ll/EN TOHSUJ/ WITNESSES I i v ATTORNEYJ :r NORRIS PETERS cu, Puma-umNITED STATES I ELI J. GILPIN AND OLIVER HELMIOK, OE FOXVLER, INDIANA.

SAFETY-CUSHION FOR ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,345, datedSeptember 29, 1896.

Application filed February 12, 1896- Serial No. 579,029. (No model.)

To (all 11/71/0772, it may concern:

Be it known that we, ELI J. GILPIN and OLIVER HELMIoK, citizens of the-United States, and residents of Fowler, county of Benton, and State ofIndiana,'have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSafety-Cushions for Elevators, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forminga part thereof, in which similar letters of referen'ce indicatecorresponding parts.

This invention relates to an improved safety-cushion for elevators, andhas for its object to so construct a cushion as to render it adaptablefor taking the impact of an elevator-car in case of its accidentallydropping. The device will be of sucha flexible character as to prevent asudden stopping of an elevator-car, whereby passengers therein will notreceive any injurious results.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically setforth in the annexed claims; and the accompanying drawing, showing avertical elevation of the lower portion of an elevator-shaft having ourimprovement contained therein, will illustrate the invention, in whichwe primarily provide a supplemental well A, which will be located upon avertical line with the shaft of the elevator and immediately below thelower floor at which the elevator-car is adapted to land. The said wellA will comprise four solid walls a, and it must be strong enough inconstruction to bear a considerable pressure of compressed air in theevent of the elevator accidentally falling.

In the lower portion of the well A and resting upon the bottom thereofis a flexible inflatable bag B, which is provided with a valve 1),adapted to feed air thereto. This said bag may be inflated underpressure by means of any suitable pump and it will be constantlymaintained in an inflated condition.

Resting upon the upper surface of the bag B is a platform 0, which ispreferably bound around its four edges by a rubber binding 0,

which willmaintain it in air-tight engagement with the walls of the wellA, which said walls must be perfectly smooth, and they are preferablysupplied with a metallic lining ct.

Resting upon the platform 0 is a series of springs D, which springs arepreferably coiled springs of a conical contour, but any other suitableform of spring may be employed. Other coiled springs D are then built upin a vertical series to a height equaling the depth of the pit betweenthe platform 0 and the upper edge of said pit.

- To hold the springs together, we provide between each set thereofauxiliary platforms 0, and a similar platform 0 rests upon and issecured to the upper set of springs, whereby a spring-cushion is formed,which, in combination with the air tank or bag B, will form a veryflexible base for the elevator-car to strike in the event of itsaccidentally dropping.

The ordinary vertical guides for the elevator-car E should extend to thebottom of the pit, and its floor e should be provided with a projectingflange c in order to supply a large area, which will tend to compressair within the well A while the elevator-car is in the act of falling.

To prevent rebounding of the elevator-car to any great height, weprovide upon the inner walls of the well A spring-catches a which aremaintained in a normally-extended position by springs a The flange e ofthe floor e of the elevator-car depresses the said catches upon thedownward movement of the elevator-car,b ut upon the rebou nd the catcheswill engage with the flanges e and prevent further upward movement ofthe elevator-car.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isv 1. The combination with an elevator-shaftof a supplemental well, an inflated bag in said well, and a platform anda series of springs resting on said bag, said platform being fitted byair-tight joints to the inner wall of the well, substantially as shownand described.

2. A safety attachment for elevator-shafts comprising a solidly-builtsupplemental well located beneath the lower landing of said shaft and aninflatable bag and an air-tight platform and a series of springs andauxiliary platforms, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of a solidly-built supplemental well located beneaththe elevatorshaft and having an inflatable bag and airtight platform anda series of springs and platforms therein, and spring-pressed catchesprojected inwardly from its Walls; with an elevator-car havingprojecting flanges upon its floor,substantia11y as shown and described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention We have signedour names,

in presence of two Witnesses, this 7th day of February, 1896.

ELI J. GILPIN. OLIVER IIELMIOK.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. DUCHARME, T. P. GRAY.

